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It’s about good IAQ for occupancy
The idea behind this credit is to ensure good indoor air quality (IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors.) for a project for occupancy. IEQc3.2 can be seen as a belt-and-suspenders credit: even if the IEQc4: Low-Emitting Materials credits are pursued, along with IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Management—During Construction, IEQc3.2 ensures that the building ends up with the intended result. (Although it’s typical to do so, you don’t have to pursue any...
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33 Comments
IAQ Testing AFTER Occupancy?
I am aware of the verbiage in the LEED reference guide for IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing to be completed PRIOR to occupancy, but considering that the flushout method can be completed DURING occupancy, I was wondering if anyone knows of an exception to this requirement.
Define Movable Furnishings of IAQ Testing
The Reference Guide states movable furnishing such as workstations and partitions must be in place during IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing. Does this include seating, conference tables, occassional tables,and lounge furniture or just desks and partitions?
Holly,
Under checklists, above, it states: Furniture and furnishings must be installed prior to testing, but are only recommended to be installed prior to flush-out.
I would think that all furniture (and materials) covered under the IEQc4 credits would need to be installed. Though, I have not personally pursued this credit.
Anyone have experience with Option 2?
Holly, I don't see how you could include some furniture but not other furniture. The expectation that furniture is included seems very broad.
IAQ testing and furniture (new and used)
I have a four story project where we are doing IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing in phases because of a tight schedule. All workstations and new furniture will be installed prior to the testing of each floor. However I've recently been informed that the occupants of the building are planning to re-use furniture that they are currently using at another location. And this furniture will be moved over as the occupants move-in, not prior.
As I understand it, all movable furniture has to be installed before IAQ testing. But LEED does not distinguish between new and re-used for this credit. Can anyone provide any further insight, because as I read the credit, to achieve Option 2 ALL furniture has to be installed.
Melissa, I agree that all furniture must be installed according to the credit requirements, and I can't offer any reason to think that you can get around that here. One can always try with a good narrative, but I suspect that reviewers would question that under the idea that even (perhaps especially in some cases) older furniture may be offgassing.
phased flushing for hospital project
Due to phasing plan the contractor will need to run AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. prior to completion of another phase of the project. If the area under construction is completely isolated from the area that has the flush out can we phase the flush outs over time to accomodate construction schedule or should we go for option 2 for the flushout and do it once all of the building is complete.
Is your AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. serving both areas? Can you phase the flushing by AHU? Testing prior to occupancy is likely an easier route. Are they doing any testing for ICRA?
Combining Option A and B
Can Options A and B be combined? Someof the floors are occupied and have met Option B testing requirements. But now the project schedule has changed and we're concerned that fast-tracking the other floors may result in testing failures with no time to re-test prior to occupancy. We can start a phased flush-out for the rest of the floors - but this means using both options to achieve the credit.
William, I am trying to think of the worst-case scenario here and I cannot see a logical reason why GBCI would deny this approach, provided you give a proper narrative explanation. Of course, they might reject it as not being an option (with some credits you are explicitly allowed to combine options, but not here)—let us know how you fare.
Option 1: Full Flush-out Before Occupancy - Is there a Min. CF?
With Option 1, Path 1, we are expected to flush-out 14,000 cf/sf of outdoor air at 60 degrees temp. and 60% humidity min. Is there a minimum ventilation rate as with Path 2 which is 0.30 cf/min.? Our project just happens to have some extra time and we thought we would have to meet the after occupancy requirments (which we could not, based on the design of the HVAC in the base building). I believe it would be a manner of calculating the corrent amount of time to meet the 14,000, but could go to a lower outdoor air of o.15 cf/min. as this is the maximum output of the original system. Your thoughts?
There is no minimum ventilation rate for Path 1. Just create a Flush Out Plan In writing, execute, trend the measurements in the space, and document.
Phased Occupancy and IAQ Testing
I have a CI project with 4 floors and phased occupancy. Two floors will be occupied while two are still under construction. Is it possible to split IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. Testing into 2 sections (floors 1 and 2 first, and then floors 3 and 4 on a later date when they are complete) given that the two areas to be tested are on separate floors?
Melissa- I don't see a problem with this strategy, as long as you make sure that construction is totally complete on each area before you test it.
We have been exactly that for a LEED CI V2 project and it was no problem in the review.
Staged Move in and Natural Ventilation
We are working on an office fit (3,800ft2) made up of basically 2 rooms. There have been some delays and the owner wants to move into one of the rooms while they finish the other. Provisions can be made to seal it off.
This is a mechanically ventilated space (we're in Dubai so summer temperatures require this) but the fresh air fans won't be installed until about 6 weeks after the owner moves in and operable windows will provide fresh air until then.
Considering both of these, is there any way we can get EQ3.2? The phased flush out option with portable fans for instance.
It seems like it would be a bit challening to earn IEQc3.2, but with temporary fans, sealing off, and good calculations, it seems possible.
Why not consider the testing option?
We thought about the testing option but the credit states that the testing should be conducted, "after construction ends and prior to occupancy" and "all testing must be conducted before occupancy."
Because of the staged move in, there will never be a time when construction is completed and before occupancy for the whole project.
Are you aware of a way around this, some kind of staged testing maybe?
Other than that, we are planning on the temporary fans, sealing of the rooms, etc.
We have use temporary fans in the windows successfully to comply with this credit, but kept in mind the temperature and humidity requirements of at least 60 F (shouldn't be a problem in Dubai) and humidity no higher than 60%. Also you will still need to flush out each area before occupancy with at least 3,500 cubic feet per sq.ft.
Also the air test can still be an option for you, if you stage it as the phases. However you have to make sure that construction areas is sealed off as well as the HVAC supplying and exhausting construction areas until the testing takes place.
International standards for Option 2, indoor air monitoring?
EQ credit 3.2, option 2, references to:
EPA Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air.
Would any international standards be accepted as equivalent, such as ISO 16000 standards series?
I am not familiar with the specific standards here but typically the answer would be "no." LEED does not allow equivalencies like this. However, I anticipate that will change as USGBC is actively working to make LEED more internationally friendly.
Reinhard, EPA is obviously preferred here but the credit language seems to allow: "...testing protocols consistent with the EPA Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air". The CI V2 rating system went on to say: "If alternative testing protocols are used, provide documentation and rationale justifying that the measured results meet the intent of the EPA testing methods". I'd say the door is open if just a crack so I'd submit a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide before using an alternate test protocol. What alternate you feel is consistent? Thanks for sharing.
Mechanical floors
I have a mechanical floor that is boxed in with no windows. this floor is just AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. Room, IT Room, M&E store room. can they be excluded from flush out or IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. Test?
Are they occupied on a regular basis? If someone is in theses spaces on a regular basis working or maintaining equipment these spaces need to be included in your flush out or testing.
There are a number of CIRs (6/24/09 in particular) that deal with this specific issue. Based on them any space defined as "occupiable" by ASHRAE 62.1 needs to be included in the EQc3.2 compliance. Storage spaces and mechanical rooms are excluded, but IT/Data Center rooms may be included because personnel can occupy them more than "occassionaly and for short periods of time". It's going to depend on what the IT room is used for. However, the 6/24/09 CIR is in contradiction to an earlier one (9/18/07) which states that all spaces within the building envelope must comply.
I'm assuming these spaces are small in size, so would they cause a problem for compliance?
Areas of question
We have a food distribution warehouse. Would the 82,000 sq foot freezer need IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing? Can I assume that the cooling tower and engine room would not require testing? The engine room would never pass an IAQ test.
Thanks
I would think that you only need to provide IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing in areas that are occupied. So, if the freezer space has people working in it on a regular basis then you would probably have to have an IAQ test. Same would go for the cooling tower and engine rooms.
Shannon
Flush monitoring requirements
We have a project with two types of spaces, one is a naturally ventilated warehouse and the other is office with package units. At a local ashrae meeting the speaker stated that to achieve the building flush credit , there would have to be devices in place to prove the purge (air flow monitoring stations). Is this true? Currently an EMS system is not included in the specifications.
Mary, to the best of my knowledge, you're not required to prove through actual measurements that the right amount of air flow was provided.
You simply have to provide a plan showing that you can provide the airflow, and record how/when you did it.
Off gasing furniture
Is it possible to off-gas the furniture off-site or in another space? We have a CI project in a new Core & Shell. The CI needs to open by a certain date so the flush-out is on a critical path. The remainder of the Core & Shell will be flushed out on a separate schedule. The developer has offered to place furniture that does not make it into the CI space in time for the initial phase of the CI flush out to be placed in the CS space when it gets flushed out after which it will be moved into the CI space. This seems to meet the intent of the credit.
Peter, I would agree with your approach as it does meet the intent of the credit as long as you are tracking the change over of 14,000 cf of outdoor air at the prescribed humidity and temperature at the off-site location. You might even be able to change over the air faster if the furniture is placed in a smaller storage area and stronger fans are used to pump fresh air into this concentrated area. Since this is an alternative approach, I would suggest you provide as much backup documentation as possible to the GBCI/USGBC including photos, a narrative, and detailed calculations.
The Flush-out criteria does not state that it is required to have all furniture and furnishings installed for the Flush-out. Although it is certainly best practices to off-gas the furniture during Flush-out--is it actually required for credit achievement? It is clearly stated as a requirement for IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. testing, which makes me question whether it is required or not for Flush-out.
Anyone have confirmation in this?
Linda- we have previously been able to do a flush out before furniture installation, but I agree that they gray area makes it difficult to know for sure. Have you taken a look at the credit form in LEED Online to see if it asks you to confirm furniture installation prior to flush out? If it doesn't I would think you are ok to proceed with the flush out before furniture installation.
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